In the 1850s, following the disintegration of the Whig Party, the Southern wing of the Democratic Party became increasingly associated with the expansion of slavery, in opposition to the newly revamped United States Republican Party.

The New Democrat movement of the 1980s and 1990s, however, has moved the Democratic agenda in favor of a more centrist approach. This is a primary complaint of many members of the Green Party, leading some Greens, such as David Cobb, to declare, "The Democratic Party is where progressive politics go to die." http://www.wordiq.com/definition/United_States_Democratic_Party

I urge everyone to read about the founding, the history, and the definition of both parties.

The democratic process is an integral part of the republic. To be precise the US is a "democratically elected representative republic". Democracy has become a catch all term to refer to any form of government having a direct participation of the people in the election of their leaders.

We'd be voting numerous times a year. We'd be inundated with campaign advertising - media, mail, phone, Internet. We'd become the lobbied. How much would all that lobbying and voting cost? How would the left do on guns, abortion, gay marriage, affirmative action, and their other issues if put to a general vote?

Great article only question itraises is HOW to get it recieved and adhered to by a majority of our "mere politicians" whom I hear many graduate with degrees in governemnt and reading the US Constitution is not even a requirement.why bother with such a "living document" anyway. They are taught ,however ,that the Court is final arbitor and that Constitution says whatever they say it says.